Many of our regular readers (and even some occasional new readers looking for him of the Google) will remember Highway 61’s own contributing editor Gabriel Bullard. Yeah, we miss him too. Since his move to Louisville, Kentucky (as sister city to Saint Louis if I’ve ever seen one), Gabe has kept his hands busy serving his fellow Ville-ians in his capacity as a reporter for WFPL (their public radio affiliate). Of course we couldn’t be happier for his employment, especially given our well-documented interest in local public radio.

But just because he’s become an old-media Louisville transplant, which would make it rather difficult to continue his contributions to this online publication, doesn’t mean he’s given up on new-media all together. To the contrary, Gabe has expanded his words into the world of aural storytelling in a decidedly internet friendly venture – he calls it Fake Radio on the Internet. The stories, while reminiscent of public radio stories a la The Listening Room, are being provided as a podcast and are probably ready for actual broadcast on the airwaves.

Until that day, when the revolution will not be televised, Gabe asked that I pass along notice to our readers in a style loosely resembling a 52nd City blog post. With apologies to Thomas Crone, here’s how he put it:

——

“Fake Radio (On the Internet) is seeking submissions. Fake Radio is a
podcast of interviews and feature stories that explore the
interesting details of ordinary people and things.

Past episodes include:

An interview with a man who chose to drink his coffee at a cafe
shirtless

If you missed yesterday’s interview on St. Louis on the Air with Joe Edwards, the man who played a large role in shaping the University City loop into what it is today, you’re being given a second chance. Consider it required listening for everyone, not just the civic set and urban planners. The U City Loop, which was recently listed as one of the top ten blocks in the nation (or something of that order), is supposed to be getting its streetcar back, and Edwards offers his insights into what makes the Loop work and how the city might learn from those decisions. The conversation is wide ranging, so it required listening really.

It might also serve as a good prep for the “What is the City?” conference at UMSL this weekend. So attention urban planners and assorted urbanist curiosos who haven’t already heard; curious onlookers like us suspect Joe Edwards name will be brought up a lot there anyway.

Just about every news source concerned with St. Louis has written about the Zombie Squad at some point (hell, I’ve already written one), but did you hear when that story went national? And by national I mean of the public radio variety, since KWMU’s own Adam Allington had his Zombie Squad story picked up by the Weekend America program. NPR has picked up many stories from St. Louis in the past, but this story with its emphasis on community involvement really does justice to the lives of the undead by focusing on their highly successful blood drives. You can hear for yourself and save a copy as your own survival guide.

Instead of rolling in your grave with the undead, why not roll up a sleeve for the next Zombie Squad Blood Drive? We know beer and brains sound much more savory on a Saturday afternoon, which is why I’m almost sure the donation is scheduled on September 29th from 11am-4pm as a means to deter vampire attacks. Your undead corpse will be lying on a cot in no time, especially considering the increase of Red Cross units to accept donors at the St. Louis Police Association building on Hampton where the drive is taking place.

And if you’re interested in supporting the community of the recently deceased a bit more immediately, why not check out the Night of the Fashionably Dead shows at GroveFest 2. This adult undead show (21+) will feature zombie fashion and lingerie for 3 shows tonight, and 2 shows tomorrow (Sunday September 16th) in conjunction with the Arch Rival Roller Girls exhibition games as part of this celebration of Forest Park Southeast. You’re not really living, even if you go.

It’s official, NPR is brought to you by listeners like us. Listeners like us and Wisconsin-based brewers of hipster beer.

While listening to KWMU the other day, I heard Pabst Brewing listed among the sponsors. There it was, PBR in between the CPB and BMG (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.)

I’m not surprised that a beer company would sponsor great programming, I’m really just shocked that Pabst is making enough to make donations. I can see how PBR drinkers would like NPR shows, but I’ve never seen Pabst priced above $2.00. For those who haven’t been to a Strokes concert or a liberal arts college party in the last five years, Pabst is the beer of choice for the young, broke and hip. I guess all those scenesters really chug.

Considering how much I like public radio, next time I’m at a bar, I may have to take a Pabst for the team. Drink a cheap beer for Carl, Dianne, Garrison, Terry and Ira.

I need to admit that I am a public radio junkie. I have a radio in nearly every room of my home, usually pretuned to one of two local stations. My name in Matt Hurst, and I am addicted to NPR.

Unfortunately for me, Saint Louis has the public radio affiliate equivalent of a cigarette company; KWMU is as iconic as it is addictive. And while it may have lost it’s Marlboro Man in meteorologist Ben Abell, St. Louis on the Air remains an old habit of mine – a recent discussion of the CWE’s history is worth a listen. But like so many otherwise interested citizens, I’m usually at work when the local show goes on the air (from 11am-noon on weekdays).

So I’ve been using the show’s podcast to make my commute a little more civically engaging. NPR uses their podcasts for nearly all their shows, but this week’s Fresh Air (with Terri Gross) might be worth a download; they’ll be interviewing hard rock bands, and thusly fulfilling Patton Oswald’s dream of making NPR sound more like the rebellious rocking intros of conservative talk radio. As for more public radio recommendations, I can’t rule it out…